The Fields Are White Harvest Crusade, Philadelphia, PA Story by Tammy Patrignani Photos by Jenna Kim and Adrian Rodriguez

This past October, Pastor Greg Laurie implored those attending the Harvest Crusade in Philadelphia, PA, to make deci- sions to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Greg, mourning the recent death of his Pastor Greg Laurie speaks to thousands attending the 33-year-old son Christopher in a car acci- Harvest Crusade in Philadelphia, PA, this past fall. dent, could easily relate the frailty of life to the importance of committing one’s eter- nal future to God. Christopher Laurie had dedicated his life to serving Christ several years previously.

The understanding that no one is prom- ised tomorrow brought intensity and bold- ness to Greg’s message—the importance of knowing and accepting Jesus Christ as one’s personal Savior.

For three evenings, Greg and special musi- cal guests, along with 390 local area church An attendee reacts to Pastor Greg’s message. A Crusade team member prays with a leaders and their congregations, gathered at young woman. Philadelphia Harvest '08 in the Wachovia Center to share with non-believers about eternal life. He urged attendees not to wait until a personal tragedy strikes, but to experi- ence the hope that has sustained him through a life that only Jesus Christ can offer.

Greg, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA, spoke about life An attendee raises his hand to accept and death and asked the question, “What are Pastor Greg’s invitation to accept Christ. you living for?” He expounded on how to be in the win-win situation expressed by Paul in Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ, am a new creation in Christ,” emphasiz- and to die is gain.” Greg shared that being a ing the importance of accepting the saving follower of Jesus Christ on earth gives us the grace of Jesus Christ. assurance of life on the other side of death— a continued life in God’s presence. In 1990, Greg Laurie and Pastor Chuck Smith of CC Costa Mesa, CA, founded Harvest Top name Christian artists shared through Crusades as a way to reach American youth. music, including MercyMe, tobyMac, Their vision was to offer a safe venue for Leeland, Kutless, the Katinas, and Jeremy Christians to bring unsaved friends who Camp. Jeremy read from Colossians 1:9 might not come to a church. Over the three- and spoke about the importance of being day event in Pennsylvania, over 3,000 new filled with the knowledge of God’s will; he believers made professions of faith in Christ. then encouraged Christians to pray for each other to gain this knowledge. He also read MercyMe, as well as other Christian musical groups, performed. Jeremy Camp reads from 2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 5:17 and shared, “I’m so glad 20th Anniversary Harvest Crusade saying, “I am a new creation in Christ.” I am not the same person I used to be … I Anaheim—August 14-16, 2009 www.harvest.org/crusades/ 35